Strixhaven: School of Mages: Difference between revisions
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In lieu of the abandoned [[block]] model, [[R&D]] has found a new way to tie together the three non-core premier sets in a single ''Magic'' "year" (aka the fall, winter, and spring sets—using northern hemisphere seasons): they share a common mechanic. For ''[[Zendikar Rising]]'', ''[[Kaldheim]]'' and ''Strixhaven'' that is [[modal double-faced card]]s.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/zendikar-rising-challenge-part-2-2020-09-07|''Zendikar Rising'' to the Challenge, Part 2|[[Mark Rosewater]]|September 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{WebRef|url=https://mashable.com/article/magic-the-gathering-zendikar-rising-reveal-shatterskull|title=New 'Magic: The Gathering' ''Zendikar Rising'' card makes rocks fall, everyone dies|author=Amanda Yeo|date=September 4, 2020|publisher=Mashable.com}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/628355870144741376/so-theres-an-article-around-on-mashable-that|title= Just want to confirm that this is accurate information?|September 4, 2020}}</ref> | In lieu of the abandoned [[block]] model, [[R&D]] has found a new way to tie together the three non-core premier sets in a single ''Magic'' "year" (aka the fall, winter, and spring sets—using northern hemisphere seasons): they share a common mechanic. For ''[[Zendikar Rising]]'', ''[[Kaldheim]]'' and ''Strixhaven'' that is [[modal double-faced card]]s.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/zendikar-rising-challenge-part-2-2020-09-07|''Zendikar Rising'' to the Challenge, Part 2|[[Mark Rosewater]]|September 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{WebRef|url=https://mashable.com/article/magic-the-gathering-zendikar-rising-reveal-shatterskull|title=New 'Magic: The Gathering' ''Zendikar Rising'' card makes rocks fall, everyone dies|author=Amanda Yeo|date=September 4, 2020|publisher=Mashable.com}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/628355870144741376/so-theres-an-article-around-on-mashable-that|title= Just want to confirm that this is accurate information?|September 4, 2020}}</ref> | ||
''Strixhaven'' the first set centered on an "[[instant]]s and [[spell]]s matters" theme.<ref name="Haven 1"> It is designed around five [[enemy color]] pairs, which despite the many years of ''Magic'' has not been done before as a large expansion - ''[[Apocalypse]]'', the other enemy color set, was drafted as a counterpart at the tail end of [[Invasion block]], and likewise with ''[[Eventide]]'' and the [[Shadowmoor block]]. Unlike the Ravnican guilds, the Strixhaven colleges aren’t built around the similarities of the two colors, but rather around their conflict.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/643839052451348480/im-very-excited-about-the-colleges-ive-been-big|title=I'm very excited about the Colleges.|February 22, 2021}}</ref> | ''Strixhaven'' the first set centered on an "[[instant]]s and [[spell]]s matters" theme.<ref name="Haven 1"/> It is designed around five [[enemy color]] pairs, which despite the many years of ''Magic'' has not been done before as a large expansion - ''[[Apocalypse]]'', the other enemy color set, was drafted as a counterpart at the tail end of [[Invasion block]], and likewise with ''[[Eventide]]'' and the [[Shadowmoor block]]. Unlike the Ravnican guilds, the Strixhaven colleges aren’t built around the similarities of the two colors, but rather around their conflict.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/643839052451348480/im-very-excited-about-the-colleges-ive-been-big|title=I'm very excited about the Colleges.|February 22, 2021}}</ref> | ||
A new mechanic is '''[[Magecraft]]''', an [[ability word]] that causes an effect whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/strixhaven-school-mages-mechanics-2021-03-25|''Strixhaven: School of Mages'' Mechanics|[[Matt Tabak]]|March 25, 2021}}</ref> Another new mechanic is '''[[Learn]]''' (You may reveal a [[Lesson]] card you own from [[outside the game]] and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.). Both of these tie into the higher "spells matter" gameplay, which was previously limited to blue and red. | A new mechanic is '''[[Magecraft]]''', an [[ability word]] that causes an effect whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/strixhaven-school-mages-mechanics-2021-03-25|''Strixhaven: School of Mages'' Mechanics|[[Matt Tabak]]|March 25, 2021}}</ref> Another new mechanic is '''[[Learn]]''' (You may reveal a [[Lesson]] card you own from [[outside the game]] and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.). Both of these tie into the higher "spells matter" gameplay, which was previously limited to blue and red. | ||
Revision as of 16:49, 29 March 2021
 | This article documents an upcoming release. |
| Strixhaven: School of Mages | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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[[File:{{#setmainimage:Strixhaven logo.png}}|250px]] | |||||
| Set Information | |||||
| Set symbol | |||||
| Symbol description | A Strix | ||||
| Design |
Mark Rosewater (lead)[1] Andrew Veen Ari Nieh Daniel Holt George Fan Sydney Adams Yoni Skolnik | ||||
| Development | Yoni Skolnik (lead) | ||||
| Art direction | Taylor Ingvarsson | ||||
| Release date | April 23, 2021 | ||||
| Themes and mechanics | Modal double-faced cards, Lessons, "instants and spells matter", enemy colors | ||||
| Keywords/ability words | Learn, Magecraft, Ward | ||||
| Set size | 275 | ||||
| Expansion code | STX[2] | ||||
| Development codename | Fencing | ||||
| Forgotten Realms Standard | |||||
| |||||
| Magic: The Gathering Chronology | |||||
| |||||
Strixhaven: School of Mages, often shortened as Strixhaven, is the 87th Magic expansion. It is set at the Strixhaven school on the plane of Arcavios.[3][4][5] It is scheduled to be released on April 23, 2021.
Set details
Strixhaven: School of Mages is a bottom-up enemy color faction set based on “instants and spells matter”.[6] Creatively, the design of this set is Magic’s take on the magical school genre.[7] Each one of the featured colleges represents one of Magic’s enemy color combinations, with their own character and mechanics.[8] Cards associated with the different colleges feature separate watermarked insignias. This set contains 275 regular cards () and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards.
Alternate card frames have another card number than the original version. Borderless planeswalkers are numbered #276-279, borderless elder dragons are #280-284, and extended artwork cards are numbered #285-366. The Buy-a-Box card is #376 and the Bundle promo is #377. The FNM-treatment cards from the Universal promo pack are numbered #TBA-TBA. There are no showcase cards in this set, as the Mystical Archive fills that position.
This set introduces the term mana value as a wording change for converted mana cost. Also, "shuffle your library" is shortened to shuffle and "activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery" is shortened to "activate only as a sorcery."
Storyline
Strixhaven is the most elite University in the Multiverse. It features five colleges founded by the elder dragon whose name each college bears: Silverquill (
), Prismari (
), Witherbloom (
), Lorehold (), and Quandrix ().[9][8] The five colleges battle it out with their own takes on magic. Learn from the best professors and explore Strixhaven’s huge library!
The cards that represent the Story Spotlights in Strixhaven are:
Magic Story
| Title | Author | Release Date | Setting | Featuring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1: Class is in Session | Adana Washington | 2021-03-25 | Arcavios, Kylem | Liliana Vess, Will Kenrith, Rowan Kenrith, Lukka, Kasmina, Shaile, Nassari, Lisette |
| A Cry of Magic | Aysha U. Farah | 2021-03-26 | Arcavios | Rootha Squallheart, Uvilda, Nassari |
Marketing
Strixhaven: School of Mages is sold in regular 16-card Draft Boosters (one card being a marketing card). A Mystical Archive card appears as a bonus card in each Draft Booster. These Mystical Archive cards don't replace another card of the same rarity in a pack. So you can get multiple rare cards in a draft booster.
In addition, the product line includes five bi-colored Theme Boosters, Collector Boosters (including three Mystical Archive cards, one certified Japanese version), Set Boosters (with a Mystical Archive card and a Lesson card), the Strixhaven: School of Mages bundle and five Commander decks.[10][11]
The packaging of Strixhaven: School of Mages features key art of Will and Rowan Kenrith. The Draft Boosters feature artwork of Killian Lu, Rootha Squallheart, Dina, Quintorius Kand and Zimone Wola. The Theme Boosters feature art from TBA (), TBA (), TBA (), Lorehold Apprentice (), and Quandrix Apprentice (). The Collector Boosters feature art of the Mystical Archive Memory Lapse and the Set Boosters feature art of TBA.
Mystical Archive
Mystical Archive is a separate set of cards associated with Strixhaven: School of Mages. It is similar to the Masterpiece Series but the cards appear more frequently in the boosters of the main set. In Mystical Archive, Wizards of the Coasts has reprinted 63 of the most famous instants and sorceries of all time in specially designed showcase frames and at all rarities. Strixhaven Draft and Set Boosters contain one Mystical Archive card, and Collector Boosters have at least three. These will only be legal in formats that they are already legal in. They are not part of the Standard environment. However, the cards may be used in Limited events.
Events
- Magic Online and MTG Arena release: April 15, 2021[12]
- Tabletop Prerelease: April 16–April 22, 2021
- Each prerelease pack contains one College Booster.[13]
- Launch party: April 23–April 25, 2021
- Friday Night Magic: April 23–July 2, 2021
- Commander Nights: April 23–July 8, 2021
Promotional cards
- Prerelease: a stamped card that can be any rare or mythic rare related to the college of choice.
- Other events: cards from the Strixhaven: School of Mages universal promo pack.
- The seasonal dark-frame promos are: Rip Apart, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA
- Buy-a-Box: foil alternate, extended art Dragonsguard Elite[11]
- Bundle promo: foil alternate art Archmage Emiritus[14]
Tokens/emblems/markers
The sixteenth card in the boosters is a token creature card, an emblem or a marker, with advertisements on the back side. It can also be a helper card with a standard card back. There are a total of TBA tokens and emblems:
2/1 Inkling creature with flying, for Shadrix Silverquill.
4/4 Elemental creature, for Will, Scholar of Frost.
1/1 Pest creature with "When this creature dies, you gain 1 life.", for Pest Summoning and Valentin, Dean of the Vein.
3/2 Spirit creature, for Illuminate History, Lorehold Command, Lorehold Excavation, Quintorius, Field Historian, and Spirit Summoning.
0/0 Fractal creature, for Kasmina, Enigma Sage and Kianne, Dean of Substance.
Treasure artifact, for Prismari Command and Storm-Kiln Artist.- Emblem for Rowan, Scholar of Sparks.
Themes and mechanics
In lieu of the abandoned block model, R&D has found a new way to tie together the three non-core premier sets in a single Magic "year" (aka the fall, winter, and spring sets—using northern hemisphere seasons): they share a common mechanic. For Zendikar Rising, Kaldheim and Strixhaven that is modal double-faced cards.[15][16][17]
Strixhaven the first set centered on an "instants and spells matters" theme.[1] It is designed around five enemy color pairs, which despite the many years of Magic has not been done before as a large expansion - Apocalypse, the other enemy color set, was drafted as a counterpart at the tail end of Invasion block, and likewise with Eventide and the Shadowmoor block. Unlike the Ravnican guilds, the Strixhaven colleges aren’t built around the similarities of the two colors, but rather around their conflict.[18]
A new mechanic is Magecraft, an ability word that causes an effect whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.[19] Another new mechanic is Learn (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.). Both of these tie into the higher "spells matter" gameplay, which was previously limited to blue and red.
Ward is a new evergreen ability word. Whenever a permanent with ward becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays an additional cost.[20]
Card types
Food tokens return. They are made by the Chef.[21] The Set introduces the Inkling and Fractal creature types and the Lesson spell type. Pests appear for the first time outside of Mirrodin.
Cycles
Strixhaven: School of Mages has at least six cycles, one of which is a double cycle.
| Cycle name |
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founders | Shadrix Silverquill | Galazeth Prismari | Peladros Witherbloom | Velomachus Lorehold | Tenazir Quandrix |
| Five mythic rare Elder Dragon creatures, each of whom is the founder of their college. | |||||
| Apprentices | Silverquill Apprentice | Prismari Apprentice | Witherbloom Apprentice | Lorehold Apprentice | Quandrix Apprentice |
| Five uncommon multicolored bears with magecraft. | |||||
| Legendary students | Quintorius, Field Historian | ||||
| Five uncommon legendary creatures, each supporting a draft archetype. | |||||
| Campuses | Silverquill Campus | Prismari Campus | Witherbloom Campus | Lorehold Campus | Quandrix Campus |
| Five Common dual taplands in college colors, with a effect. | |||||
Modal double-faced cycles
| Cycle name | Side |
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deans | 
|
Shaile, Dean of Radiance | Ulvida, Dean of Perfection | Valentin, Dean of the Vein | Plargg, Dean of Chaos | Kianne, Dean of Substance | |
|
Embrose, Dean of Shadow | Nassari, Dean of Expression | Lisette, Dean of the Root | Augusta, Dean of Order | Imbraham, Dean of Theory | ||
| Five rare MDFC creatures, each side is aligned with one color of a college. | |||||||
Mega cycles
| Cycle name |
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snarls | Shineshadow Snarl | Frostboil Snarl | Necroblossom Snarl | Furycalm Snarl | Vineglimmer Snarl |
| Five rare reveal lands that enter the battlefield tapped, except if you reveal a land with the corresponding basic land type from your hand. They complete a cycle started in Shadows over Innistrad. | |||||
| Commands | Silverquill Command | Prismari Command | Witherbloom Command | Lorehold Command | Quandrix Command |
| Each of these rare modal spells has four modes and allows you to choose two different modes rather than merely one. They complete a cycle of two-colored Elder Dragon-named spells started in Dragons of Tarkir. | |||||
Reprinted cards
TBA
Preconstructed decks
At the same date five Commander decks are released, which are flavorfully connected to the main set. This is Commander 2021 aligning with Strixhaven: School of Mages.
| Theme deck name |
Color Identity | Commander | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
| Silverquill Statement | W | B | Breena, the Demagogue | |||
| Prismari Performance | U | R | Zaffai, Thunder Conductor | |||
| Witherbloom Witchcraft | B | G | Willowdusk, Essence Seer | |||
| Lorehold Legacies | W | R | Osgir, the Reconstructor | |||
| Quantum Quandrix | U | G | Adrix and Nev, Twincasters | |||
Notable cards
- Much like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths had a series of colorless non-artifact, non-Eldrazi creatures, Strixhaven introduced a "cycle" of four true colorless sorceries and instants, a first since Oath of the Gatewatch.
Misprints
- Zaffai, Thunder Conductor is referred to as Zaffai, Thunder Collector in its text box.[22]
References
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (March 29, 2021). "In the Strixhaven, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast. "Standings 2020-21". Magic.gg.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (September 1, 2020). "Zendikar Debut and Announcement Day Recap". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Strixhaven Sneak Peek (Video). Weekly MTG. YouTube (February 19, 2021).
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (February 18, 2021). "The First Lesson: Introduction to Strixhaven". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 25, 2021). "What makes Strixhaven a bottom up set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 7, 2021). "Is Strixhaven based on anything?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Strixhaven house names apparently leaked. Reddit (February 16, 2021).
- ↑ The Zendikar Adventuring Party (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (September 1, 2020).
- ↑ Strixhaven: School of Mages. Heo.com.
- ↑ a b Ari Zirulnik (March 25, 2021). "Strixhaven: School of Mages Product Overview". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 18, 2021). "Strixhaven News + More". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ WPN (March, 2021). "Strixhaven: School of Mages Prerelease Pack". Wizards Play Network.
- ↑ Strixhaven: School of Mages Campus Tour (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (March 25, 2021).
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 7, 2020). "Zendikar Rising to the Challenge, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Amanda Yeo (September 4, 2020). "New 'Magic: The Gathering' Zendikar Rising card makes rocks fall, everyone dies". Mashable.com.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 4, 2020). "Just want to confirm that this is accurate information?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 22, 2021). "I'm very excited about the Colleges.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (March 25, 2021). "Strixhaven: School of Mages Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Andrew Brown and Jules Robins (March 25, 2021). "Introducing Ward". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Strixhaven Commander Sneak Peek: Legendaries, Hints, Art & More! Part 1 (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (March 22, 2021).
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 25, 2021). "Fyi, Zaffai, Thunder Conductor text box says Zaffai, Thunder collector". Blogatog. Tumblr.
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